Chu Chin Chow

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a version of the old Arabian Nights legend of the Forty Thieves. In the manner of its illustrative action it recalls the rather grim violence of 'Kismet', as produced by its author, and in its dialogue it suggests that drama's Wardour Street orientalism. To the familiar motive of the visit of Ali Baba with his son to the thieves' magic cave is added the fraud of the Robert Chief, who visits Ali Baba's miserly elder brother in the guise of a wealthy Chinese merchant in order to rob him of the wealth acquired by him as a Slave-dealer. There are added an intrigue between Ali and his brother's attractive wife, and his effort to get rid of his own scolding wife in order to replace her. These issues, together with many interludes of dance and song, fill out the 14 scenes, which have for their subordinate plot the courtship by Ali's son of the slave-heroine belonging to his uncle and eventually purchased for him by his father's ill-gotten gains. The whole tone of the drama is picturesquely truculent in its primitive non-morality. There is, however, nothing in it to call for modification, provided that discretion is used in the slave-market, scene V, with regard to the stage-direction 'uncovering their nakedness to the buyers' as carried out by the girls put up for auction. The words of the duet at the end of scene 2, act II, must be forwarded for consideration. Recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall. Songs forwarded and approved. EAB 7/8/16. Memo. Since writing this synopsis I have seen Mr Asche - whom I know and have been assured by him that the oriental draperies of the girls in the slave-market scene will be quite adequate, and that the 'uncovering' as seen by the audience will be only that of the shoulders. He showed me also a sketch of the costume by Percy Anderson which was quite free from objection. Ernest A. Bendall. 'Chu Chin Chow', at His Majesty's Additional scenes for production, 22nd Jan '17. Of these fresh scenes of the play at his Majesty’s the first has for its main object the illustration of various phases of eastern life with the aid of fakirs, fortune-tellers, beggars and camels. It leads up to the return of Ali with his plunder from the cave. The other deals with a pantomimic entertainment given at Kasim's blue palace and with the announcement to Kasim that his honoured guest is none other than the famous robber sheik Abu Hassan. Recommended for licence Ernest A. Bendall. Managers informed that these additional scenes can be included in the licensed Ms. [9 May 1918] Chu Chin Chow at His Majesty's Theatre. This new scene and songs illustrative of the love of Omar for his desert-bride, and of the vengeance of Abu Hassan, are recommended for licence Ernest A. Bendall. Managers informed that additional matter can be included in licensed Ms.